Metro Conference

Canisius Faces Detroit Mercy in 2018 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship Game on Saturday

5/4/2018 2:35:24 PM

Conference Notes 

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – No. 2 University of Detroit Mercy (9-6) is set to face No. 4 Canisius College (7-8) in the 2018 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship game on Saturday, May 5, at 10 a.m. on ESPNU. Monmouth University will serve as the championship host from the brand-new Kessler Stadium in West Long Branch, NJ.
  Trip Down Memory Lane:
The Titans defeated the Griffs, 12-10, in the teams’ lone regular season meeting on Saturday, April 7. Detroit Mercy outscored Canisius, 5-1, in the fourth quarter to seal the come-from-behind victory. The Titans closed the contest on a 5-0 scoring run after trailing, 10-7 in the final frame.  
 
Griffs vs. Titans in MAAC Championship play:
The only time that the Griffs and Titans met in the MAAC Championship was on May 4, 2012, in the semifinals. Canisius edged Detroit Mercy, 12-10, en route to their second MAAC Championship in history.
 
Championship Game History:
Detroit Mercy has played in two MAAC Championship games going (1-1). The Titans claimed their only MAAC Championship in 2013 as the No. 4 seed. They defeated Siena College, 11-10, on May 6, 2013.
 
Canisius will be making its third Championship game appearance and first since 2012. The Griffs are (2-0) all-time in MAAC Championship games. They knocked off Siena, 10-9, in 2012 and former member VMI, 14-5, in 2008.
 
Championship Broadcast Information:  
The 2018 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship game takes place on Sunday, May 5, at 10 a.m., and will air on ESPNU. Matt Ward (Play-by-Play) and Michael Corey (Color) will have the call of the title game.
 
Championship History:
Each of the four teams in the Men’s Lacrosse Championship have won at least one title. Canisius leads the field of participants with two MAAC Championships. Detroit Mercy, Monmouth, and Quinnipiac have each claimed one.
 
Chasing History:
2018 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Canisius’ Connor Kearnan is six points away from tying the conference’s single-season record for points (82). Kearnan is also just two assists shy of tying the league’s single-season mark for assists (49).
 
Familiar Territory:
Since 2014 each of the four teams competing in the upcoming championship have participated in at least two championships. 
 
Success on Top:
Since 2014 the top seed in the MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship has won every championship. The last non-No. 1 seed to claim the championship was No. 4 seed Detroit Mercy in 2013.
 
On Top of the Nation:
Canisius’ Connor Kearnan ranks seventh in the nation in points per game (5.07) and sixth in the nation in assists per game (3.14). Monmouth’s Noah Lode is eighth in the nation in save percentage (.571) and 18^th in goals-against average (8.71). Detroit Mercy’s Logan Shamblin ranks 12^th in save percentage (.548), while teammate Charlie Hayes is fifth in caused turnovers per game (2.29).
 
Regular Season Champions:
Quinnipiac secured the 2018 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Regular Season title and a perfect record (6-0) in conference play with a win over Marist on April 26. The Bobcats are the No. 1 overall seed in the MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship for the second time in the last three seasons. It is also the second time over the course of the last three years that Quinnipiac has ran the table in conference play.
 
Welcome to West Long Branch:
The Men’s Lacrosse championship takes place in West Long Branch, NJ for the first time in history.
 
About the 2018 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship:
For more information on the 2018 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship, visit MAACSports.com/MLAX. Championship tickets can be purchased at maac.ticketleap.com, and will also be sold on-site during the event.
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 37^th year of competition during the 2017-18 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.